Photographic Legends of the Delta

California has always had a rich artistic history with its photographers at the forefront of creativity. People came from all over the country to try their hand at mapping out California through their images, spreading the news of beautiful cities, towns, and wilderness to the rest of the United States, and even internationally, as early as 1859.

It was these individuals that allowed areas like Stockton, Sacramento, and Yosemite Valley to become well-known, although not all of these men and women became well-known themselves. While Carleton Watkins established himself as the favorite Yosemite Photographer and John Spooner became popular throughout all of Stockton, men like Charles Weed and Richard Yoshikawa were forgotten. 

Regardless of the fact that some of these names are not remembered well, these individuals all contributed greatly to the artistic legacy of California, making the state an desired destination early on and establishing themselves as legends through their photographs.